NSW Indigenous Sea Urchin Harvest Project Boosts Local Economy

A warm‑water surge has caused long‑spined sea urchins to overrun kelp forests along New South Wales, threatening fisheries. Joonga, an Indigenous‑owned company, secured a $1.48 million aquaculture grant from the NSW state government to turn the invasive pest into a commercial product. The venture harvests the urchins with an all‑Yuin dive team, processes up to nine tonnes a day, and plans to sell both fresh and processed sea urchin meat while using lower‑quality stock for fertilizer. The project creates jobs for the local community, supports conservation by removing the urchins, and includes a 51 percent stake in Sydney Sea Urchin, which supplies the Sydney Fish Market. Export licences and potential lobster‑related products are also being pursued.